Relation of serum uric acid levels to readmission and mortality in patients with heart failure

Abstract

Data on the association between uric acid (UA) levels and clinical outcomes, such as readmission and mortality, in patients with heart failure are scarce. This study explores whether UA exhibits an independent association with the composite endpoint (clinical outcome during 6 months after discharge, including mortality and 6-month readmission) in patients with chronic heart failure while controlling for other covariates. This study was an observational retrospective study. A cohort of 1943 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure, who were admitted between December 2016 and June 2019, was included in the study. Data were sourced from PhysioNet. The independent variable analyzed was the UA level, and the dependent variable was a composite endpoint comprising mortality and 6-month readmission. The study had 1943 participants, of which 91.04% were aged more than 60 years and 58.05% were female. The fully-adjusted model yielded a positive correlation between UA levels (per 10 µmol/L) and the composite endpoint as well as readmission, following adjustment for confounding variables (HR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.01). Notably, a non-linear relationship was observed between UA levels and the composite endpoint, particularly readmission, with a J-shaped correlation observed between UA levels and both the composite endpoint and readmission. Overall, we found that the serum UA levels at admission were independently and positively associated with the risk of the composite endpoint (clinical outcomes during 6 months after discharge), especially readmission after adjusting other covariates. A J-shaped relationship was observed between UA levels and the composite endpoint and readmission.